Set for a sip? Monthly Harrisburg tasting events planned for later this week

It’s time to “sip @” again in downtown Harrisburg.

The next tastings will take place this Thursday and Friday in connection with the monthly 3rd in the Burg events.

Created by Sara Bozich, they include “sip @ 17,” featuring Pennsylvania distilleries and wineries offering tastings at 17 S. Third St. in SoMa (south of Market), and “sip @ soma” (23 S. 3rd St.) that welcomes breweries.

Bozich said recently that while her lineup for Pa. breweries is filled through the rest of the year, there are still openings for wineries and distilleries. “I hope to book more July through December,” she said. Interested producers can contact her at sara.bozich@gmail.com.

Appalachian Craft Spirits will be pouring at this week’s tasting, with Mark & Val’s Wines scheduled for May and Cristiano Winery set for June.

Mark and Val Rhodes own and operate their year-and-a-half-old winery out of their home in York, where they appear every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city’s Penn Market. Cristiano Winery, located in Mechanicsburg, opened in late 2019. It already has appeared to pour its wines at 3rd in the Burg and at one of the “sip @ 17″ events, and in addition to its June appearance will also be participating in the August Block Party.

“It’s a great way to get our product out there,” co-owner Terri Christiana said.

Mishka Vodka, based in Allentown, also has appeared this year at “sip @ 17.” Vendors use a PLCB Expo permit and can sell their products by the glass or bottle to-go. Often, they offer free samples in line with PLCB liquor code, Bozich said.

SoMa tasting — The SoMa Block Party Series will run from 7 to 10 p.m. each month starting in May on the Thursday before 3rd in the Burg.

On the beer side, here’s the list of breweries that are locked in for the remainder of 2022:

April – Hemauer Brewing (Mechanicsburg)
May – East End Brewing (Pittsburgh)
June – Pour Man’s Brewing (Ephrata)
July – GearHouse Brewing Co (Chambersburg)
August – Lavery Brewing Co. (Erie)
September – Shy Bear Brewing (Lewistown)
October – Mount Gretna Craft Brewery (Palmyra)
November – Levity Brewing (Indiana)
December – Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey)

Those already pouring this year include The Englewood, Under The Bridge Cider (Lebanon), and Rough Edges Brewing (Waynesboro).

Both “sip @ 17″ and “sip @ soma” are open during 3rd in the Burg Fridays and preceding Thursdays, from 6 to. 9 p.m. The events also feature a local artist installation. 3rd in the Burg Fridays feature live music at sip @ soma in addition to a food truck on the block.

“On July 15, we’ll be TheBurg’s featured “3rd in the Burg” location,” Bozich said.

Here the tastings schedule for the rest of the year, tied into 3rd in the Burg.

April 14-15
May 19-20*
June 16-17
July 14-15
Aug. 18-19
Sept. 15-16
Oct. 20-21*
Nov. 17-18
Dec. 15-16

* Thursday date coincides with SoMa Block Party; hours are 7 to 10 p.m.

The SoMa Block Party Series will run from 7 to 10 p.m. each month starting in May on the Thursday before 3rd in the Burg. “We shut down South Third Street between Market and Chestnut and pack the streets with a live band, food trucks, beer/wine/spirits vendors, non-alcoholic beverage vendors, and more,” Bozich said.